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Autobiography  of 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 

FRANK  E.  STEVENS 


Reprinted  From  The 

Journal  of  the  Illinois  State  Historical  Society 
October,  1912. 


SPRINGFIELD,  ILL. 

ILLINOIS  STATE  JOURNAL  Co.,  STATE  PRINTERS 
1918 


STEPIIRN  ARNOLD  DOUGLAS. 
From  daguerreotype  owned  by  his  son,  Hon.  Robert  M.  Douglas. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHY  OF  STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS. 


FRANK  E.  STEVENS,  DIXON,  ILL. 

While  collecting  material  for  a  biographical  study  of  Stephen  Arnold 
Douglas,  Judge  Robert  M.  Douglas  of  North  Carolina,  a  son,  kindly 
loaned  me  this  little  autobiography.  Added  to  the  story  as  told  me 
personally  by  the  late  Colonel  John  Dement  and  the  sketch  published 
years  ago  in  Harper's  Monthly  Magazine  by  Daniel  Roberts,  we  now 
are  enabled  for  the  first  time  to  secure  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  early 
life  of  Douglas. 

When  Stephen  A.  Douglas  kissed  his  mother  good  bye  at  the  home- 
stead gate  near  Canandaigua,  New  York,  her  last  inquiry  was: "And 
when  shall  you  come  home  to  visit  us,  my  son?"  "On  my  way  to  Con- 
gress, mother,"  he  answered.  And  so  the  first  visit  was  to  be  made  ten 
years  afterwards,  almost  to  a  day.  Douglas  started  westward  deter- 
mined to  make  for  himself  a  political  career.  Just  what  point  he  should 
seek  was  undetermined;  so  at  Cleveland,  he  tarried  with  relatives  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  his  bearings.  With  the  personal  manipulation  of  those 
bearings,  Douglas  had  so  little  to  do  that  it  might  be  said  he  literally 
drifted  until  circumstances,  none  of  them  propitious,  landed  him,  sick, 
footsore  from  his  ten  mile  walk  from  Exeter,  at  the  end  of  a  raw  day 
of  November,  in  the  little  village  of  Winchester,  then  in  the  county  of 
Morgan,  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

He  was  so  worn  by  his  long  sickness  that  he  could  scarcely  stagger 
along  the  road,  yet  he  walked  bravely  forward  with  but  a  shilling  in 
money  as  the  total  of  his  worldly  possessions.  He  presented  his  boyish 
but  courageous  face  to  the  landlord  and  asked  for  a  credit  in  board  un- 
til he  could  secure  pupils  enough  to  warrant  his  remaining  in  Winches- 
ter. Like  the  western  tavern  keeper  of  his  time,  that  one  was  charmed 
by  the  manly  little  chap  who  requested  it.  He  read  in  his  big  eyes  the 

5505S1 


story  of  an  honest  purpose,  pursued  disastrously,  yet  so  valiantly  and 
persistently,  that  failure  could  not  be  possible.  The  incredible  courage 
of  the  youngster  aroused  the  sympathy  of  the  village  and  almost  before 
Douglas  went  to  bed  that  night  40  pupils  had  been  secured  for  the  little 
school  he  desired  to  teach  and  from  which  he  hoped  to  earn  money  enough 
to  start  him  in  his  chosen  profession  of  the  law.  Had  he  been  permitted 
to  go  on  to  Pekin  that  environment  might  not  have  prevented  his  sub- 
sequent political  achievements,  but  the  location  certainly  would  have 
retarded  his  progress  many  years.  Jacksonville  was  the  most  important 
city  in  the  state  at  the  time.  The  ablest  lawyers  of  the  state  practiced 
there.  It  was  the  pole  star  among  Illinois  cities.  Everything  which 
had  political  ambition  behind  it  pointed  to  Jacksonville.  It  was  the 
home  of  Gen.  John  J.  Hardin,  said  to  be  the  most  brilliant  and  one  of 
the  ablest  men  in  the  state.  To  incur  his  displeasure  was  regarded  by 
many  as  political  suicide  whether  the  poor  victim  was  of  the  same  polit- 
ical faith  or  not.  When  Douglas  came  to  town,  Hardin  could  not  bend 
forward  far  enough  to  find  the  youngster  and  so  the  youngster  remained 
unnoticed  until  the  states  attorney  incident  was  brought  to  notice  by 
John  Wyatt  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  eighth  General  Assembly, 
1832-34.  The  incident  excites  laughter  in  Illinois  to  this  very  day  when 
related.  Douglas  weighed  but  ninety  pounds  at  the  time  and  was  only 
five  feet  four  inche's  tall,  while  Wyatt  was  over  six  feet,  angular,  broad- 
shouldered  and  naturally  when  looking  down  on  his  companion  when 
with  him,  he  grew  to  call  him  "Little  Douglas".  'In  manner  too,  Wyatt 
was  a  typical  westerner;  a  Kentuckian,  rough  and  ready,  fearless,  adroit 
and  possessed  of  a  vocabulary  which  on  occasion  would  frighten  a  fish 
woman.  In  the  ungentle  art  of  tongue  lashing,  no  man  in  Illinois  could 
face  him.  This  man  early  became  attached  to  Douglas  and  ever  con- 
tinued a  helpful  associate. 

Wyatt  planned  his  campaign  with  military  precision  and  with  the 
genius  of  a  great  general.  When  he  knew  how  the  legislature  stood 
politically,  he  took  particular  pains  to  make  a  street  scene  and  declare 
his  intentions  thus:  "Wouldn't  it  be  fun  to  beat  Hardin  with  little 
Douglas!"  Wyatt  loaned  Douglas  a  horse.  Arrived  at  Vandalia  the 
state  capital,  not  a  room  could  be  found.  In  despair  Wyatt  approached 
Major  John  Dement  then  state  treasurer,  a  man  of  great  political  weight, 


COL.    JOHN    J.    HARDIN. 


MAJOR    JOHN    DEMENT. 


a  former  member  of  the  legislature  and  a  man  of  the  same  height  as 
Douglas,  five  feet  four,  though  somewhat  stouter.  Dement  invited 
Douglas  to  share  his  room.  After  settling  that  important  detail  he 
took  Douglas  to  a  barber  shop  ordered  a  hair  cut  and  a  shave  for  the 
young  man  and  together  they  sallied  forth  to  get  votes  to  carry  the 
measure  through.  Douglas  was  dressed  in  blue  jeans,  considerably  too 
short  in  the  arm  and  the  leg,  but  that  was  a  day  when  coat  and  pants 
cut  little  figure  in  politics  or  for  that  matter,  social  life.  Under  the  guid- 
ing spirit  of  Dement,  Douglas  made  famous  progress.  Very  soon  the 
conspiracy  reached  the  ears  of  Governor  Duncan,  a  great  friend  of 
Hardin's.  At  once  the  governor  approached  Dement  and  remonstrated 
against  the  latter's  interest  in  the  little  unknown  stranger.  Before 
leaving  he  requested  Dement  as  the  political  favor  of  a  lifetime  to  urge 
a  few  friends  to  vote  against  the  bill. 

Now  it  happened  that  just  a  few  weeks  previous,  Dement  had  been  a 
candidate  for  state  treasurer  and  he  wanted  certain  votes  of  legislators. 
Accordingly  he  had  approached  Duncan  and  asked  him  to  intercede  with 
some  of  the  members  for  votes.  Greatly  offended,  Governor  Duncan 
somewhat  haughtily  declined  with  the  statement  that  it  would  be 
altogether  too  undignified  for  him  to  ask  a  member  of  the  legislature 
for  his  vote.  Therefore  when  Duncan  approached  Dement  on  a  mission 
identical  with  his  own,  Dement  drew  his  five  feet  of  manhood  to  its  high- 
est point  and  declared  it  would  be  altogether  undignified  for  him  to  ask 
a  member  of  the  legislature  to  vote  against  a  personal  bill.  The  next 
day  with  the  help  of  Wyatt  and  Dement  the  bill  was  passed  and  Douglas 
was  elected  later  on. 

The  personality  of  that  boy  with  his  boyish  insistence  and  courage 
was  the  same  when  he  solicited  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate.  He 
was  a  boy  on  the  day  of  his  death,  an  affectionate  and  altogether  irre- 
sistible boy,  ambitious,  resourceful,  voluble,  but  never  a  gushing  boy. 
It  seemed  as  though  he  was  just  as  alert  the  day  he  entered  the  village 
of  Winchester  and  looked  into  the  barroom  of  the  hotel  with  its  crack- 
ling fire  as  he  was  when  fighting  the  attacks  made  against  him  for  the 
part  he  took  in  repealing  the  Missouri  Compromise.  The  only  difference 
between  Douglas  at  twenty  and  Douglas  at  forty  was  twenty  years. 


When  he  stood  upon  the  corner  watching  the  progress  of  the  adminis- 
trator's sale,  he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  administrator  just  as  he 
attracted  attention  on  the  floor  of  the  Senate  afterwards.  The  boy  was 
just  as  magnetic.  He  was  but  a  boy  when  he  made  his  famous  race  for 
Congress  against  Stuart  at  29  and  came  within  35  votes  of  beating 
him  in  a  strong  Whig  district.  On  the  canal  dump  he  held  the  laborers 
spellbound.  Were  he  to  enter  the  supreme  court  room  half  an  hour  later, 
he  held  the  judges  just  as  closely. 

At  Winchester  he  extended  his  acquaintance.  He  attended  a  debat- 
ing society  and  strengthened  his  forensic  powers.  On  Saturdays  he 
tried  law  suits  before  the  village  squire.  He  attended  house  raisings. 
He  was  economical  and  industrious  and  in  the  spring  he  emerged  with 
something  like  $100.00  in  money  to  tide  him  over  the  professional 
drought  in  Jacksonville.  But  his  master  stroke  at  Winchester  was  the 
action  which  secured  to  him  the  lasting  friendship  of  S.  S.  Brooks,  the 
leading  journalist  of  the  day  in  Illinois. 

While  at  Winchester  he  received  a  prospectus  from  Brooks  in  effect 
stating  that  if  a  list  could  be  secured  in  Morgan  county,  he  would  start 
a  Jackson  newspaper  at  Jacksonville.  With  his  customary  unselfish- 
ness and  vigor  he  secured  for  Brooks  a  large  number  of  subscribers. 
Brooks  thereafter  became  the  publicity  manager  for  Douglas.  His 
constant  attention  to  the  wants  of  others  without  the  expectation  of 
reward;  his  ability  to  make  lasting  friendships  remained  through  life 
just  as  it  had  been  pursued  at  little  Winchester.  He  had  been  there  but 
a  few  days  when  a  merchant  named  Miner  became  so  attracted  towards 
him  that  he  asked  Douglas  to  share  his  room  with  him  and  "batch  it" 
in  their  joint  efforts  to  save  some  money.  Shortly  afterwards  Miner 
lost  his  heart  to  a  young  lady  and  the  partnership  with  Douglas  was 
dissolved.  Upon  request  to  "stand  up"  with  Miner,  Douglas  was  com- 
pelled to  decline  because  he  owned  no  boiled  shirt.  It  was  a  common 
enough  occurrence  in  those  days  to  be  without  one.  In  fact  the  man 
who  owned  one  was  out  of  the  ordinary  amongst  his  fellow  man.  Miner 
happened  to  be  one  of  the  few  who  owned  not  only  one  but  two  and 
one  of  the  two  was  loaned  Douglas  to  take  part  in  the  important  event 
with  his  very  warm  friend,  Miner. 


S.    S.  BROOKS. 

The   Jacksonville   editor  who  pushed   Douglas'   political   fortunes   and   resigned   his 
candidacy  upon  the  Democratic  ticket  in  favor  of  Douglas,  who  was  elected. 


Birthplace  of  Douglas  in  Brandon,  Vermont. 


Numerous  biographies  of  Douglas  have  been  written,  but  in  every  one 
this  part  of  his  early  life  has  been  garbled  badly  especially,  the  lonely 
and  very  long  and  painful  walk  to  Winchester.  In  this  little  auto- 
biography, but  lately  known  to  exist,  the  names  of  his  old  benefactors 
have  been  given,  thus  correcting  the  traditions  so  long  believed.  It 
sets  at  rest  the  gossip  which  has  been  permitted  to  become  history. 
More  than  ever  before,  it  recites  how  little  he  had  to  do  with  the  control 
of  his  destiny,  though  with  the  charming  personality  which  it  discloses, 
Douglas  in  any  environment  would  have  risen  far  above  the  multitude. 

This  autobiography  was  written  in  a  little  memorandum  or  pass  book 
with  a  pencil.  It  was  written  with  no  more  intention  for  publicity  than 
another  would  put  into  his  diary  when  he  noticed  a  visit  to  a  friend  or 
commented  on  the  weather,  although  in  the  first  two  lines  there  might 
have  been  concealed  the  thought  that  some  day  he  expected  greater 
things.  "For  the  purpose  of  refreshing  my  mind  in  future  upon  sub- 
jects that  might  otherwise  be  forgotten,"  he  wrote.  But  if  he  did  have 
the  hope  for  preferment,  little  he  could  have  dreamed  of  the  power 
he  was  destined  to  wield  in  twelve  short  years  from  that  date,  when 
Webster  and  Clay  and  Calhoun  and  Benton  listened  to  him  and  when 
after  the  "Omnibus  Bill"  had  failed  to  pass  in  the  vain  fight  for  a 
compromise,  his  separate  bills  were  taken  up  one  after  another  and  passed 
as  the  compromise  measures  of  1850. 

Douglas  the  man  and  senator  grown,  was  Douglas  the  boy  back  at 
Winchester,  earnest,  impulsive,  generous — but  a  boy  none  the  less. 

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS, 
SEPTEMBER  1,  1838. 

I  this  day  commence  this  memorandum  or  journal  of  passing  events 
for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  my  mind  in  future  upon  subjects  that  might 
otherwise  be  forgotten.  It  may  be  well  to  turn  my  attention  to  the  past 
as  well  as  the  future,  and  record  such  facts  as  are  within  my  recollection 
or  have  come  to  my  knowledge,  and  may  be  interesting  or  useful  to 
myself  or  others  hereafter. 

I  learn  from  my  mother  that  I  was  born  in  the  town  of  Brandon  in 
the  County  of  Rutland  and  State  of  Vermont  on  the  23d  day  of  April, 
1813.  My  father,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  was  a  graduate  of  Middlebury 


8 

College,  a  physician  by  profession,  and  a  man  very  much  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him.  I  only  speak  of  my  father  as  I  have  always  heard  others 
speak  of  him,  for  he  died  when  I  was  only  about  two  months  old,  and  of 
course  I  cannot  recollect  him.  I  have  often  been  told  that  he  was  holding 
me  in  his  arms  when  he  departed  this  world.  My  mother,  who  thank 
God  yet  lives,  was  a  Miss  Sarah  Fisk  before  she  was  married.  My  par- 
ents had  but  two  children,  my  sister  Sarah  A.  Douglas  (who  has  since 
married  Julius  N.  Granger  of  Manchester  Centre,  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.) 
and  myself.  Upon  the  death  of  my  father,  my  mother  moved  to  a  small 
farm  left  her  by  her  father  about  three  miles  north  of  my  native  village, 
and  resided  with  her  brother  Edward  Fisk,  who  was  an  industrious, 
economical,  clever  old  bachelor,  and  wanted  some  one  to  keep  house 
for  him.  This  arrangement  suited  them  both  as  their  farms  joined, 
and  each  was  so  situated  as  to  need  the  aid  of  the  other.  Here  I  lived 
with  my  mother  and  uncle  upon  the  farm  until  I  was  about  fifteen  years 
of  age,  and  then  determined  to  select  some  other  mode  of  living.  I 
had  no  great  aversion  to  working  on  a  farm,  nor  was  I  much  dissatisfied 
with  my  good  old  uncle,  but  thought  him  rather  a  hard  master,  and 
unwilling  to  give  me  those  opportunities  of  improvement  and  education 
which  I  thought  I  was  entitled  to.  I  had  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  a 
common  school  education  three  months  each  year,  and  had  been  kept 
diligently  at  work  the  rest  of  the  time.  I  thought  it  a  hardship  that  my 
uncle  would  have  the  use  of  my  mother's  farm  and  also  the  benefit 
of  my  labour  without  any  other  equivalent  than  my  boarding  and  clothes. 
I  therefore  determined  upon  leaving  my  home  and  my  true  friends, 
and  see  what  I  could  do  for  myself  in  the  wide  world  among  strangers. 
My  mother  remonstrated,  warned  me  of  the  dangers  and  temptations 
to  which  young  men  are  exposed,  and  insisted  upon  my  selecting  some 
trade  or  engaging  in  some  business  that  would  give  me  a  steady  home 
and  regular  employment.  I  promised  to  comply  with  her  wishes,  that 
is,  keep  good  company,  or  in  other  words  keep  out  of  bad  company, 
avoid  all  immoral  and  vicious  practices,  attend  church  regularly,  and 
obey  the  regulations  of  my  employer;  in  short  I  promised  everything  she 
wanted,  if  she  would  consent  to  my  leaving  home.  Accordingly  in  the 
Spring  of  1828,  being  about  fifteen  years  of  age,  I  bid  my  mother,  sister 
and  uncle  farewell,  and  left  home  for  Middlebury,  about  fourteen  miles 


A 


Mother    of    Stephen    A. 


SARAH  GRANGER. 


Dunlins.    From    portrait    owned 
Robert  M.  Donplas. 


by    her    grandson.    Judge 


Tlie  Old  Afademy,   Canandaigua,   N.   Y 


distant,1  and  engaged  to  learn  the  Cabinet  making  trade  with  one 
Nahum  Parker.  I  put  on  my  apron  and  went  to  work,  sawing  table 
legs  from  two  inch  plank,  making  wash  stands,  bed  steads,  &c.,  &c.  I 
was  delighted  with  the  change  of  home  and  employment.  There  was 
a  novelty  about  it  that  rendered  it  peculiarly  interesting.  My  labor 
furnished  exercise  for  the  mind  as  well  as  the  body.  I  have  never  been 
placed  in  any  situation  or  been  engaged  in  any  business  which  I  enjoyed 
to  so  great  an  extent  as  the  cabinet  shop.  I  then  felt  contented  and 
happy,  and  never  aspired  to  any  other  distinction  than  that  connected 
with  my  trade  and  improvements  in  the  arts.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
year  I  became  dissatisfied  with  my  employer  in  consequence  of  his 
insisting  upon  my  performing  some  menial  services  in  the  house.  I 
was  willing  to  do  anything  connected  with  the  shop  but  could  not  consent 
to  perform  the  duties  of  a  servant  in  the  house.  A  difficulty  soon  arose 
between  Mr.  Parker  and  his  wife  and  myself,  and  resulted  in  my  leaving 
him  and  returning  home.  So  much  was  I  attached  to  the  life  of  a 
mechanic,  I  could  not  content  myself  at  home  and  soon  got  a  situation  in 
the  shop  of  Deacon  Caleb  Knowlton,  a  cabinet  maker  in  Brandon,  my 
native  village.  I  remained  with  my  new  employer  about  a  year,  and 
pursued  my  business  strictly,  as  all  the  apprentices  in  the  shop  were 
required  to  do.  Whilst  I  lived  with  Mr.  Parker  I  formed  a  taste  for 
reading,  particularly  political  works,  by  being  associated  with  a  number 
of  young  men  who  spent  their  time  nights  and  Sundays  in  reading  and 
study.  At  this  time  politics  ran  high  in  the  presidential  election  between 
General  Jackson  and  J.  Q.  Adams.  My  associate  apprentices  and  myself 
were  warm  advocates  of  Gen.  Jackson's  claims,  whilst  our  employer 
was  an  ardent  supporter  of  Mr.  Adams  and  Mr.  Clay.  From  this 
moment  my  politics  became  fixed,  and  all  subsequent  reading,  reflection 
and  observation  have  but  confirmed  my  early  attachment  to  the  cause 
of  Democracy. 

In  the  winter  of  1829  and  1830  I  was  taken  sick  and  compelled  to 
return  home.  My  physicians  informed  me  that  my  physical  strength 
was  too  feeble  to  enable  me  to  work  at  the  cabinet  business,  and  that  it 
would  be  necessary  for  me  to  select  some  other  occupation.  Finding 
my  health  too  feeble  to  work  in  the  shop,  I  commenced  going  to  school 


10 

at  the  Academy  in  Brandon,  under  the  direction  of  J.N.  Chipman,  and 
continued  under  his  instruction  until  the  fall  of  1830,  when  I  removed  to 
Canandaigua,  Ontario  county,  N.  Y.  My  sister  had  previously  married 
Julius  N.  Granger,  and  removed  to  his  residence  in  Manchester  Centre, 
Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  and  this  year,  1830,  my  mother  married  his 
father;  and  now  the  father  and  mother  and  only  son  and  only  daughter 
became  united  in  one  family  where  they  continue  to  reside  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  peace,  plenty  and  happiness.  Upon  removing  to  the  State  of 
New  York  in  December,  1830,  I  became  a  student  in  the  Academy  in 
Canandaigua  under  the  superintendence  of  Prof.  Henry  Howe,  where 
I  continued  until  the  latter  part  of  1832.  Whilst  connected  with  the 
Academy  at  Canandaigua  I  devoted  myself  zealously  to  my  studies,  the 
Greek  and  Latin  languages,  mathematics,  rhetoric,  logic,  &c.,  and 
made  considerable  improvement. 

About  the  1st  of  January,  1833, 1  left  the  Academy  and  entered  the 
office  of  Walter  &  Levi  Hubbell  as  a  student  at  law.  I  pursued  my  law 
studies  diligently  five  days  in  the  week,  and  the  sixth  I  spent  in  review- 
ing my  ^classical  studies,  until  sometime  in  the  month  of  June  in  that 
year.  Finding  myself  in  straightened  pecuniary  circumstances,  and 
knowing  my  mother's  inability  to  support  me  through  a  regular  course 
of  law  studies,  which  would  continue  about  four  years  longer  according 
to  the  statutes  of  New  York  requiring  a  course  of  seven  years  classical 
and  legal  study  before  admission  to  the  bar,  I  determined  upon  removing 
to  the  western  country  and  relying  upon  my  own  efforts  for  a  support 
henceforth.  My  mother  and  relatives  remonstrated,  urging  that  I  was 
too  young  and  inexperienced  for  such  an  adventure;  but  finding  my 
resolution  fixed  and  unchangeable,  they  reluctantly  consented,  and 
kindly  furnished  me  with  three  hundred  dollars,  the  last  of  my  patri- 
mony, with  which  to  pay  my  expenses.  On  the  24th  of  June,  1833  (being 
20  years  of  age)  I  bid  farewell  to  my  friends,  and  started  alone  for  the 
"great  west,"  without  having  any  particular  place  of  destination  in 
view.  The  first  night  I  arrived  at  Buffalo,  and  thence  took  a  trip  to  the 
Battle  Grounds  of  Chippewa,  Niagara,  the  Falls  &c.,  &c.,  and  returning 
to  Buffalo  in  a  few  days,  I  embarked  on  a  steam  boat  for  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  Arriving  at  Cleveland  I  presented  a  few  letters  of  introduction 
to  some  gentlemen  of  that  place  which  I  had  received  from  Messrs. 


Historical    Museum,   Canandaigua.  N.   Y. 


Douglas 


11 

Francis  Granger,  Mark  H.  Sibley  and  other  kind  friends.  By  means 
of  these  letters  I  immediately  became  acquainted  with  Sherlock  J. 
Andrews,  Esq.,  an  accomplished  and  intelligent  gentleman  and  dis- 
tinguished lawyer  of  that  city.  Being  pleased  with  Cleveland  and  its 
prospects  for  business,  and  also  with  the  few  acquaintances  I  formed 
there,  I  immediately  determined  upon  remaining  there.  By  the  sta- 
tutes of  Ohio  I  was  required  to  pursue  the  study  of  law  one  year  within 
the  limits  of  that  State  before  I  could  be  admitted  to  practice.  For 
this  purpose  Mr.  Andrews  was  kind  enough  to  offer  me  the  use  of  his 
office  and  library,  which  I  gladly  accepted,  and  entered  upon  my  studies 
with  increased  spirit  and  zeal.  In  a  very  few  days  however,  I  found  my- 
self prostrate  upon  my  bed  with  the  bilious  fever,  and  was  confined  until 
some  time  in  the  month  of  October,  about  four  months.  *  This  sickness 
has  often  since  been,  and  still  continues  to  be,  the  subject  of  the  most 
serious  and  profound  reflection.  My  condition,  the  circumstances  with 
which  I  was  surrounded,  the  doubtful  and  sometimes  hopeless  issue, 
and  especially  my  feelings,  thoughts,  and  meditations,  are  all  now  fresh 
in  my  mind.  I  was  among  entire  strangers.  During  the  whole  tune 
I  never  saw  a  face  I  had  ever  seen  before;  I  was  so  feeble  as  to  be  entirely 
helpless,  unable  even  to  turn  myself  in  bed;  I  was  advised  by  my  phys- 
icians that  there  was  no  reasonable  hope  of  my  recovery,  and  that  I  ought 
to  be  prepared  for  my  final  dissolution  which  was  then  expected  to  take 
place  from  day  to  day.  I  was  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  my  senses,  per- 
fectly conscious  of  my  condition,  and  listened  patiently  and  calmly  to 
all  they  told  me,  and  felt  perfectly  indifferent  as  to  the  result.  I  felt 
satisfied  with  the  past  and  no  particular  hopes  or  apprehensions  of  the 
future.  I  thought  I  was  on  the  dividing  line  between  this  world  and 
the  next,  must  continue  to  exist  in  the  one  or  the  other,  was  willing  to 
take  either,  and  felt  no  choice  which.  In  short,  during  that  four  months 
of  severe  sickness,  I  enjoyed  more  peace  and  contentment  of  mind, 
more  perfect  freedom  from  all  care  and  trouble,  except  occasional  bodily 
pain,  and  more  negative  happiness  than  during  any  other  similar  period 
of  my  life. 

That  such  should  have  been  the  state  of  my  mind  under  such  peculiar 
and  trying  circumstances,  has  ever  been  to  me  the  subject  of  curiosity, 


'  He  lived  vrith  a  cousin,  Daniel  P.  Rhodes,  by  name. 


12 

wonder  and  amazement.  I  can  account  for  it  upon  no  principle  of 
philosophy  or  human  nature,  and  now  make  this  private  record  of  the 
same  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  if  future  experience  and  observation 
shall  solve  the  mystery. 

Upon  regaining  my  strength  in  the  month  of  October  so  far  as  to  be 
able  to  walk,  I  paid  off  all  my  bills  occasioned  by  my  sickness  or  otherwise 
and  found  I  had  about  $40.00  left.  I  then  became  reckless  and  adven- 
turous, and  determined  to  leave  the  place.  Accordingly  I  took  passage 
on  a  canal  boat  for  Portsmouth  on  the  Ohio  River,  thence  on  a  steam 
boat  to  Cincinnati3,  thence  to  Louisville,8  thence  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
remaining  in  each  place  a  few  days,  without  any  particular  object  in 
view,  and  ready  to  embark  in  any  adventure  adapted  to  my  taste  and 
feeling  which  should  present  itself. 

At  St.  Louis  I  soon  found  my  small  pittance  of  money  was  about  ex- 
hausted, and  that  I  must  immediately  engage  in  some  employment  there 
which  would  defray  my  expenses,  or  go  to  some  place  not  far  distant 
where  I  could  do  so.  My  first  effort  was  to  obtain  a  situation  in  some 
law  office  in  the  city,  where  I  could  write  and  perform  office  labor  suf- 
ficient to  pay  my  expenses,  and  during  the  rest  of  the  time  pursue  my 
law  studies.  Here  a  difficulty  presented  itself  which  I  had  not  foreseen 
and  guarded  against.  I  was  more  than  a  thousand  miles  from  home,  or 
from  any  person  whom  I  knew  or  who  knew  me,  and  had  no  letters  of 
introduction.  Perceiving  this  difficulty  I  felt  great  delicacy  in  offering 
my  services.  Stern  and  impending  necessity  staring  me  in  the  face,  I 
resolved  at  all  hazards  to  make  the  effort.  I  first  called  on  Mr.  Bates,  * 
introduced  myself  and  told  him  my  business  and  situation.  He  re- 
ceived and  treated  me  kindly  and  politely;  and  informed  me  that  he 
had  nothing  for  me  to  do;  but  would  be  happy  to  see  me  at  his  office, 
&c.,  for  all  which  I  tendered  him  my  grateful  acknowledgments  and 
retired.  After  making  a  similar  effort  with  like  success  with  Mr.  Spauld- 
ing,  I  paid  my  Tavern  bill  and  left  the  city,  going  to  Jacksonville, 
Illinois 

At  Jacksonville  I  formed  a  few  acquaintances  and  attempted  to  get 
into  business  of  some  kind,  say  teaching  school,  clerking,  &c.,  but  with- 
out success.  When  I  arrived  at  Jacksonville  I  had  left  one  dollar  and 


»  He  tried  to  secure  work  in  each  place  but  failed. 
«  Subsequently  attorney  general. 


AIAJOR  MURRAY  McCONNEL,. 


13 

twenty-five  cents  in  money,  and  finding  that  would  not  pay  my  board 
more  than  one  day  at  the  tavern,  I  sold  a  few  school  books  I  had  with 
me  for  a  few  dollars,  and  took  up  my  lodgings  at  a  private  house,  Mr. 
Heslip's,  whose  family  I  have  known  and  esteemed  ever  since.  One  of 
my  first  acquaintances  at  Jacksonville  was  Murray  McConnel,  Esq., 
a  lawyer  of  some  reputation,  who  advised  me  to  go  to  Pekin  on  the  Illi- 
nois river  and  open  a  law  office.  I  informed  him  that  I  had  never 
practiced  law,  had  not  yet  procured  my  license,  nor  had  I  any  library. 
He  informed  me  that  he  would  furnish  me  with  a  few  books,  such  as  I 
would  stand  in  the  most  need  of  immediately,  and  wait  for  the  pay  until 
I  was  able  to  pay  him,  and  did  so  to  the  amount  of  $30.00 5  worth,  which 
I  received  and  subsequently  paid  him  for.  He  told  me  that  a  license 
was  a  matter  of  no  consequence,  that  I  could  practice  before  a  justice 
of  the  peace  without  one,  and  could  get  one  at  any  time  I  desired  to  do 
so.  I  concluded  to  take  his  advice,  and  consequently  packed  up  my 
things  and  went  to  Meredosia  on  the  Illinois  river  to  take  a  steam  boat 
to  Pekin.  Arriving  at  the  River,  I  waited  one  week  for  a  steam  boat, 
and  then  learned  that  the  only  boat  which  was  expected  up  the  river 
that  season  had  blown  up  at  Alton,  and  consequently  there  would  be 
no  boat  up  until  the  next  spring.  What  was  now  to  be  done?  After 
paying  my  bill  at  the  tavern,  I  had  but  fifty  cents  left.  I  could  find 
nothing  to  do  there,  and  had  no  money  to  get  away  with.  Something 
must  be  done,  and  that  soon,  I  enquired  as  to  the  prospect  of  getting 
a  school,  and  was  told  by  a  farmer  residing  in  the  country  a  few  miles 
that  he  thought  that  I  could  obtain  one  at  Exeter,  about  ten  miles  dis- 
tant; and  if  I  would  go  home  with  him  that  night,  he  would  go  to  Exeter 
with  me  the  next  day.  I  accepted  his  invitation,  left  my  trunk  at  Mere- 
dosia, rode  behind  the  farmer  on  the  same  horse  to  his  home,  and  the 
next  day  we  both  went  to  Exeter.  He  introduced  me  to  several  citizens 
who  were  very  polite  and  kind;  but  did  not  think  a  school  could  be 
obtained  there;  but  if  I  would  go  to  Winchester,  eight  or  ten  miles  further 
they  had  no  doubt  I  would  succeed  in  obtaining  one.  I  thought  this 
was  rather  poor  encouragement;  but  what  was  to  be  done?  I  was  out 
of  money,  and  still  in  too  feeble  health  to  perform  any  very  arduous 
labor;  and  must  do  something  to  live;  for  I  was  too  proud  to  beg.  I 


'  For  this  kindness  never  forgotten,  Douglas  secured  the  appointment  for  McConnel  of  fifth  auditor 
of  the  treasury  department. 


14 

therefore  determined  to  go  to  Winchester  and  make  another  effort. 
Accordingly  I  parted  with  my  friend,  the  kind  hearted,  hospitable  farmer 
and  taking  my  cloak  on  my  arm,  went  to  Winchester  on  foot  that  night. 
Arriving  in  the  town,  I  went  to  the  only  tavern  in  the  place,  introduced 
myself  to  the  landlord  and  told  him  I  wished  to  stop  a  few  days  with  him 
to  which  he  readily  assented.  The  landlord  introduced  me  to  the  citizens 
generally,  who  seemed  pleased  with  the  idea  of  a  new  school  in  their  little 
town,  and  in  a  few  days  obtained  for  me  a  subscription  list  of  about  forty 
scholars.  In  the  meantime  there  was,  on  the  second  day  after  my  arrival, 
an  administrator's  sale,  at  which  all  the  personal  property  of  a  dead 
man's  estate6  was  to  be  disposed  of  at  auction,  and  the  administrator 
applied  to  me  to  be  clerk  at  the  auction,  make  out  the  sale  bills,  draw 
the  notes,  &c.,  which  I  very  cheerfully  consented  to  do,  and  performed 
the  duty  in  the  best  style  I  knew  how,  and  received  five  dollars  for  two 
days  labor  therein.  About  the  1st  of  December  I  commenced  my  school, 
and  closed  it  about  the  1st  of  March,  having  during  the  whole  time 
a  goodly  number  of  scholars,  and  giving  as  I  believe  general  satisfac- 
tion to  both  scholars  and  parents.  During  this  period  I  attended 
to  considerable  law  business  before  justices  of  the  peace,  and  formed  an 
extensive  acquaintance  with  the  people  in  that  part  of  the  county. 
There  was  considerable  political  excitement  growing  out  of  the  veto 
of  the  U.  S.  Bank  and  the  removal  of  the  deposits  by  Gen.  Jackson, 
or  rather  the  removal  of  the  secretary  of  the  treasury  because  he  would 
not  remove  the  deposits,  and  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Taney  in  his 
place,  who  did  remove  them  from  the  vaults  of  the  U.  S.  Bank.  One 
evening  at  the  Lyceum,  Mr.  Josiah  Lambert,  a  lawyer  of  some 
distinction  from  Jacksonville,  made  a  speech,  denouncing  the 
leading  measures  of  Gen.  Jackson's  administration,  and  especially 
the  veto  and  removal  of  the  deposits.  He  characterized  the  first  of 
those  acts  as  arbitrary  and  tyrannical,  and  the  last  as  dangerous  and 
unconstitutional.  Being  a  great  admirer  of  Gen.  Jackson's  public  and 
political  character  and  a  warm  supporter  of  the  principles  of  his  ad- 
ministration, I  could  not  remain  silent  when  the  old  hero's  character, 
public  and  private,  was  traduced,  and  his  measures  misrepresented  and 
denounced.  I  was  then  familiar  with  all  the  principles,  measures  and 


•  Elihu  Martin,  deceased . 


Hull. ling'  in  which  Stephen  A.  Douglas  taught  school.     Winchester,  Illinois. 


IRA  ROWEN. 

The  man  who  procured  the  pupils  for  Douglas'  school.  From  an  old  photograph 
owned  by  his  daughter-in-law,  Mrs.  H.  J.  Rowan  of  Galesburt?,  111.,  made  in 
the  early  GO'S. 


15 

facts  involved  in  the  controversy,  having  been  an  attentive  reader  of 
the  debates  in  Congress  and  the  principal  newspapers  of  the  day,  and 
having  read  also  with  great  interest,  the  principal  works  in  this  country; 
such  as  the  debates  in  the  convention  that  formed  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  and  the  convention  of  the  several  States  on  the  adop- 
tion of  the  Constitution,  the  Federalist,  John  Adams'  work  denominated 
a  defense  of  the  American  Constitution,  the  opinions  of  Randolph, 
Hamilton  and  Jefferson  on  the  Constitutionality  of  the  Bank,  and  the 
History  of  the  Bank  as  published  by  Gales  &  Seaton,  Jefferson's  Works, 
&c.  I  had  read  all  of  them  and  many  other  political  works  with  great 
care  and  interest,  and  had  my  political  opinions  firmly  established.  I 
engaged  in  the  debate  with  a  good  deal  of  zeal  and  warmth,  and  defended 
the  administration  of  Gen.  Jackson  and  the  cause  of  the  Democratic 
party  in  a  manner  which  appeared  highly  gratifying  to  my  political 
friends,  and  which  certainly  gave  me  some  little  reputation  as  a  public 
speaker;  much  more  than  I  deserved. 

When  the  first  quarter  of  my  school  expired  I  settled  my  accounts, 
and  finding  that  I  had  made  enough  to  pay  my  expenses,  I  determined 
to  remove  to  Jacksonville,  the  county  seat  of  the  same  (Morgan) 
county,  and  commence  the  practice  of  the  law.  In  the  month  of  March 
I  applied  to  the  Hon.  Samuel  D.  Lockwood,  one  of  the  justices  of  the 
Supreme  Court,  and  after  a  short  examination,  obtained  a  license,  and 
immediately  opened  an  office,7  being  then  less  than  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  During  the  first  week  of  my  residence  at  Jacksonville  the  Whig 
(alias  Federal  Party)  called  a  county  meeting,  and  made  speeches  and 
passed  resolutions  denouncing  the  administration  in  the  severest  terms, 
and  more  especially  in  relation  to  the  bank  and  currency  question.  The 
next  week  the  Democrats  called  a  meeting,  one  of  the  most  numerous 
and  spirited  I  have  ever  witnessed  in  that  county.  It  was  composed 
principally  of  farmers  and  mechanics,  men  who  are  honest  in  their 
political  sentiments  and  feel  a  deep  interest  in  the  proper  administration 
of  the  public  affiairs,  although  but  few  of  them  are  accustomed  to  public 
discussion.  It  so  happened  that  at  that  time  out  of  twelve  members 
of  the  bar  there  was  not  a  Democrat  among  them.  This  meeting  I 
attended,  and  at  the  earnest  solicitation  of  my  political  friends,  (for  per- 
sonal friends  I  had  not  then  had  time  to  form)  I  consented  to  make  a 


*  In  the  court  house. 


16 

speech.  The  excitement  was  intense,  and  I  was  rather  severe  in  my 
remarks  upon  the  opposition;8  so  much  so  as  to  excite  the  bitter  hos- 
tility of  the  whole  of  that  party,  and  of  course  the  warm  support  of  my 
own  party.  The  next  week  the  Patriot,  the  organ  of  the  opposition, 
printed  and  published  by  James  G.  Edwards,  Esq.,  devoted  two  entire 
columns  of  that  paper  to  me  and  my  speech,  and  continued  the  same 
course  for  two  or  three  successive  weeks.  The  necessary  consequence 
was  that  I  immediately  became  known  to  every  man  in  the  county, 
and  was  placed  in  such  a  situation  as  to  be  supported  by  one  party  and 
opposed  by  the  other.  This  notoriety,  acquired  by  accident  and  founded 
on  no  peculiar  merit,  proved  highly  serviceable  to  me  in  my  profession; 
for  within  one  week  thereafter  I  received  for  collection  demands  to  the 
amount  of  thousands  of  dollars  from  persons  I  had  never  seen  or  heard 
of,  and  who  would  not  probably  have  known  that  such  a  person  as  my- 
self was  in  existence,  but  for  the  attacks  upon  me  in  the  opposition 
papers.  So  essential  was  the  service  thus  rendered  me  by  my  opponents 
that  I  have  sometimes  doubted  whether  I  was  not  morally  bound  to  pay 
the  editor  for  his  abuse  according  to  the  usual  prices  of  advertisements. 
This  incident  illustrates  a  principle  which  it  is  important  for  men  of  the 
world  and  especially  politicians  to  bear  in  mind.  How  foolish,  how 
impolitic,  the  indiscriminate  abuse  of  political  opponents  whose  humble 
condition  or  insignificance  prevents  the  possibility  of  injury,  and  who 
may  be  greatly  benefited  by  the  notoriety  thus  acquired.  I  firmly 
believe  this  is  one  of  the  frequent  and  great  errors  committed  by  the 
political  editors  of  the  present  day.  Indeed,  I  sincerely  doubt  whether 
I  owe  most  to  the  kind  and  efficient  support  of  my  friends,  and  no  man 
similarly  situated  ever  had  better  and  truer  friends,  or  to  the  violent, 
reckless  and  imprudent  opposition  of  my  enemies.  Certain  I  am  that 
without  both  of  these  causes  united,  I  never  could  have  succeeded  as 
well  as  I  have  done.  But  I  must  forbear;  for  I  find  that  I  am  philo- 
sophizing, which  is  far  from  my  present  purpose. 

During  the  summer  of  1834  my  time  was  about  equally  divided  be- 
tween law  and  politics,  reading  and  practicing  the  one  and  preaching 
the  other.  There  was  a  general  election  pending  for  Governor,  Congress- 
man, and  members  of  the  Legislature,  in  which  I  felt  no  ordinary  in- 


«  He  was  carried  away  on  the  shoulders  of  his  admirers  and  was  dubbed  "The  Little  Giant.' 


MRS.   LIZZIE  ROWEN  HEXBY. 
A  pupil  of  Douglas. 


MR.   AND  AIRS.   THOMAS   rillTJP   ROWKN. 


17 

terest  and  took  an  active  part.  I  supported  the  Democratic  candidates; 
William  Kinney  for  Governor  against  Gen.  Joseph  Duncan,  and  Wm.  L. 
May  for  Congress  against  Benjamin  Mills,  and  the  Democratic  ticket  for 
the  Legislature  in  my  own  county.  We  lost  our  Governor;  elected  our 
Congressman;  and  a  part  of  our  legislative  ticket. 

At  this  time  John  J.  Hardin,  Esq.,  (now  Gen.  Hardin)  held  the  office 
of  state's  attorney,  under  an  appointment  from  Governor  Reynolds, 
which  then  had  two  years  to  run.  He  had  procured  this  appointment 
through  the  aid  and  influence  of  Col.  James  Evans,  Col.  William  Weath- 
erford,  Capt.  John  Wyatt  and  other  leading  Democrats,  every  one  of 
whom  he  opposed  at  the  next  election  after  the  appointment.  Capt. 
Wyatt  was  the  only  one  of  them  who  succeeded  in  his  election,  and  was 
so  indignant  at  Hardin  for  what  he  called  his  ingratitude,  that  he  deter- 
mined upon  removing  him  from  office  at  all  hazards.  The  opposition 
having  succeeded  in  electing  their  Governor,  there  was  no  hope  from 
that  quarter;  and  the  only  resort  left  was  to  repeal  the  law  conferring 
the  appointment  upon  the  Governor,  and  make  the  office  elective  by 
the  Legislature.  At  the  request  of  Capt.  Wyatt,  I  wrote  the  Bill,  and 
on  the  second  day  of  the  session  of  the  Legislature  which  commenced 
on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  1834,  he  introduced  his  bill,  and  also 
another  bill  written  by  myself  making  the  county  recorder's  election 
by  the  people,  instead  of  being  appointed  by  the  Governor.  I  felt  no 
peculiar  interest  in  these  bills  any  further  than  I  thought  them  correct 
in  principle,  and  desired  to  see  them  pass  because  my  friends  warmly 
supported  them.  Both  the  bills  were  violently  opposed  by  the  opposi- 
tion (alias  Federal  Party)  and  advocated  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
Democrats,  and  finally  passed  by  a  small  majority.  When  sent  to  the 
Council  of  Revision  (composed  of  the  Governor  and  Judges  of  the  Su- 
preme Court)  for  approval,  they  were  both  vetoed;  the  former  as  uncon- 
stitutional, and  the  latter  because  it  was  inexpedient.  Then  came  a 
desperate  struggle  between  the  friends  and  opponents  of  the  bills,  and 
especially  the  states  attorney  bill.  The  opposition  charged  that  its 
only  object  was  to  repeal  Hardin  out  of  office  in  order  to  elect  myself 
in  his  place,  and  that  the  whole  movement  had  its  origin  in  Wyatt's 
malice  and  my  selfishness  and  ambition.  I  will  here  remark,  and  most 


18 

solemnly  aver  it  to  be  true,  that  up  to  the  time  this  charge  was  made 
against  me,  I  never  had  conceived  the  idea  of  being  a  candidate  for  the 
office,  nor  had  any  friend  suggested  or  hinted  to  me  that  I  could  or  ought 
to  receive  it.  But  from  that  moment  forward,  the  friends  of  the  bill 
declared  that,  in  the  event  they  passed  the  bill  over  the  heads  of  the 
Council,  I  should  be  elected  to  the  office.  At  this  time  I  did  not  desire 
to  be  a  candidate,  for  I  had  no  reason  to  suppose  I  could  be  elected  over 
so  formidable  an  opponent  who  had  been  a  long  time  a  resident  of  the 
State,  had  fought  in  the  Black  Hawk  War,  and  was  well  acquainted 
with  the  members.  My  short  residence  in  the  State,  want  of  acquain- 
tance, experience  in  my  profession  and  age,  (being  only  twenty-one 
years  old)  I  considered  insuperable  objections.  My  friends  however, 
thought  differently,  passed  the  bill, 9  and  elected  me  on  the  first  ballot 
by  four  votes  majority. 

I  will  here  remark  that  although  I  wrote  this  bill  and  reaped  first 
fruits  under  it,  and  was  inclined  at  that  time  to  think  it  was  correct 
in  principle  and  ought  to  become  a  law;  yet  subsequent  experience, 
observation  and  reflection  have  convinced  me  of  my  error;  and  I  now 
believe  that  all  Legislative  elections  ought  to  be  abolished,  and  the 
officers  either  appointed  by  the  Governor  and  Senate,  or  elected  by  the 
people.  In  this  remark  I  do  not  mean  to  include  clerks  of  our  courts, 
whose  appointments,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  ought  to  be  vested  in  the 
judges. 

Immediately  upon  my  election  as  states  attorney  I  procured  all  the 
standard  works  upon  criminal  law  within  my  reach, 10  such  as  Archbold, 
Chitty,  Roscoe,  McNally,  Kale's  Pleas  of  the  Crown  &c.,  &c.;  and 
devoted  myself  to  the  study  of  them  with  a  determination  of  making 
myself  master  of  that  branch  of  my  profession.  My  official  duties 
being  exclusively  within  the  line  of  my  profession,  I  now  applied  myself 
assiduously  to  study  and  practice.  How  far  I  succeeded  in  this,  I  must 
leave  to  others,  who  are  more  impartial  judges  than  myself.  An  amus- 
ing circumstance  occured  in  McLean  county  at  the  first  court  after 
my  election  as  prosecuting  attorney.  The  grand  jury  had  found  a  large 
number  of  indictments  for  different  offences,  and  I  had  been  engaged 


»  The  bill  was  passed  finally  over  the  council's  veto. 
i»  Daniel  Roberts  loaned  Douglas  these  books.    Wyatt  loaned  him  the  horse  to  ride  over  the  circuit. 


Old   Court  House,   Jacksonville,   Illinois.     Built   1S28.     Vacated  and   torn  down   in 
1872  or  1873. 


19 

all  night  in  writing  them,  in  great  haste,  in  order  to  discharge  the  grand 
jury  and  enable  them  to  return  to  their  families.  After  the  grand 
jurors  were  discharged  John  T.  Stuart,  Esq.,  came  into  court  and  moved 
to  quash  all  the  indictments,  although  he  had  been  employed  in  but 
a  small  number  of  the  cases.  He  stated  his  reasons  for  quashing  the 
indictments,  which  were  that  they  were  presented  by  the  "grand  jurors 
in  and  for  the  County  of  McClean"  when  in  fact  there  was  no  such 
County  as  " McClean,"  the  true  name  of  the  County  being  "McLean". 
The  manner  of  making  this  motion  was  very  pompous  and  accompanied 
with  some  rather  contemptuous  remarks  imputing  ignorance  to  the 
writer  of  the  indictments.  Contrasting  my  youth  and  inexperience 
with  the  long  practice  and  reputation  of  the  opposing  counsel,  I  con- 
sidered his  conduct  extremely  ungenerous,  and  more  especially  in  a 
county  where  he  was  well  acquainted  with  the  people  and  I  was  an 
entire  stranger.  The  moment  the  motion  to  quash  was  made  and  the 
objection  was  pointed  out,  it  struck  my  mind  as  being  fatal  to  all  the 
indictments,  and  had  it  been  done  in  a  respectful  and  courteous  man- 
ner, I  should  have  made  no  objection  to  the  indictments  being  quashed. 
When  the  Judge  (Stephen  T.  Logan)  asked  me  if  I  had  anything  to  say 
in  support  of  the  indictments,  I  told  him  I  did  not  consider  it  necessary 
as  yet  to  say  anything,  Mr.  Stuart  having  made  the  motion  and  having 
the  affirmative  of  the  question,  the  burden  of  proof  of  course  rested 
upon  him.  That  I  presumed  the  court  would  not  take  official  notice 
that  I  had  not  spelled  the  name  of  the  county  right  until  some  evidence 
had  been  adduced  to  sustain  the  motion,  and  when  such  evidence  should 
be  produced,  it  would  then  be  time  enough  for  me  to  rebut  such  evidence. 
The  court  decided  that  it  could  not  officially  take  notice  of  the  precise 
mode  of  spelling  the  name  of  the  county,  and  gave  Mr.  Stuart  time  to 
procure  the  statute  creating  and  naming  the  county.  My  object  was 
now  accomplished;  knowing  there  was  none  of  the  statutes  to  be  found 
in  the  county,  and  that  it  would  require  a  good  deal  of  traveling,  trouble 
and  expense  to  procure  one,  which  would  sufficiently  rebuke  the  gentle- 
man's insolence;  but  not  doubting  that  when  the  statute  was  produced, 
it  would  show  that  the  defect  in  the  indictments  was  fatal  and  they  ought 
to  be  quashed.  After  a  lapse  of  two  days  the  Statute  was  procured  from 
an  adjoining  county,  and  produced  and  read  to  the  court  by  Mr.  Stuart, 


20 

when  to  his  astonishment,  and  I  will  say  to  the  astonishment  of  myself 
and  the  whole  bar,  it  appeared  that  the  name  of  the  county  in  the  in- 
dictment was  right,  and  that  the  learned  gentleman  did  not  know  how 
to  spell  the  name  of  the  county  he  had  practiced  in  for  years.  It  turned 
the  joke  upon  him  so  completely,  and  excited  so  much  mirth  and  humor 
at  his  expense,  that  he  could  not  conceal  his  chagrin  and  mortification. 
The  indictments  were  all  sustained  by  the  court,  much  to  my  gratifi- 
cation. Some  time  afterwards  I  took  the  pains  to  compare  this  printed 
statute  with  the  enrolled  bill  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  and 
found  there  was  a  misprint,  the  true  name  of  the  County  being  McLean. 
This  small  incident,  although  of  no  consequence  of  itself,  has  been  an 
instructive  lesson  to  me  in  the  practice  of  law  ever  since,  to-wit :  Admit 
nothing,  and  require  my  adversary  to  prove  everything  material  to  the 
success  of  his  cause.  Every  lawyer's  experience  teaches  him  that  many 
good  causes  are  saved  and  bad  ones  gained  by  a  strict  observance  of 
this  rule.  During  the  time  I  held  the  office  of  states  attorney,  I  con- 
ducted many  important  criminal  prosecutions,  and  as  far  as  I  have 
been  able  to  learn,  acquitted  myself  in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  my 
friends  and  the  public  generally. 

In  August,  1836, 1  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  from  the  county  of 
Morgan.  The  contest  was  a  very  spirited  one,  conducted  almost  solely 
upon  national  politics  and  party  grounds.  Each  party  ran  a  full  ticket 
and  strived  to  elect  the  whole  ticket.  The  stump  speeches  were  made, 
principally  by  Gen.  John  J.  Hardin11  on  behalf  of  the  Whig  ticket, 
and  by  myself  in  support  of  the  Democratic  ticket.  The  contest  resulted 
in  the  election  of  five  Democrats  and  one  Whig  (Gen.  Hardin). 

On  the  1st  Monday  of  December,  1836, 1  resigned  my  office  of  states 
attorney,  and  took  my  seat  in  the  Legislature. *  2  It  was  during  this 
session  that  Illinois  embarked  in  her  mammoth  system  of  internal  im- 
provements. Before  the  election  I  had  announced  myself  in  favor  of  a 
general  system  of  internal  improvements,  and  was  really  anxious  to  see 
one  of  reasonable  extent  and  expense  adopted;  but  never  for  a  moment 
dreampt  of  anyone's  advocating  such  a  wild  and  extravagant  scheme  as 
the  one  which  was  finally  adopted. 


1 1  Hardin  desired  an  election  as  a  vindication  at  home.  He  was  the  only  Whig  elected  in  Morgan 
countv. 

i » Twenty-three  years  old.  Abraham  Lincoln  served  in  this  Tenth  General  Assembly.  It  was 
the  most  notable  in  Illinois  history. 


Facsimile  of  signature  of  the  first  American  Douglas,  ancestor  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas. 


21 

When  I  learned  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  bill  which  the  Committee 
on  Internal  Improvements  were  maturing,  I  attempted  to  arrest  it  by 
introducing  resolutions  by  way  of  instructions  (see  House  Journal  of 
1836-7,  page  36)  setting  forth  the  kind  and  extent  of  a  system  I  thought 
ought  to  be  adopted.  My  resolutions  proposed  1st:  To  finish  the 
Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  2nd:  To  construct  a  railroad  from  the 
termination  of  the  canal  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river.  3rd:  To 
make  a  railroad  from  the  Mississippi  river  to  the  Wabash  to  connect 
with  the  Wabash  and  Erie  canal. 

I  was  willing  and  anxious  to  make  these  three  works  on  the  faith  of 
the  State;  but  was  unwilling  to  go  further.  I  believed  the  canal  to  be 
an  important  State  and  National  work,  which  would  be  useful  to  the 
government  and  people.  I  entertained  doubts  whether  the  plan  of 
construction  adopted  by  the  commissioners  was  the  best  one  that  could 
be  pursued,  but  rather  than  hazard  the  success  of  the  work  by  differ- 
ences of  opinion  as  to  the  best  manner  of  doing  it,  I  determined  to  sup- 
port and  did  support  the  bill  which  was  passed  that  session.  In  fact 
the  bill  passed  that  session  was  a  compromise  bill  written  by  myself 
and  introduced  by  Capt.  Joseph  Napier  of  Cook  county  from  a  com- 
mittee of  which  we  were  both  members. 

But  to  return  to  the  internal  improvements  system;  when  it  was 
ascertained  from  my  conversation,  speeches,  and  resolution  that  I 
would  oppose  the  mammoth  bill,  its  friends  procured  me  to  be  instructed 
by  my  constituents  to  go  for  it.  It  must  be  remembered  that  at  that 
day  the  people  were  for  the  system — almost  en  masse.  So  strong  was 
the  current  of  popular  feeling  in  its  favor  that  it  was  hazardous  for  any 
politician  to  oppose  it.  Under  these  circumstances  it  was  easy  to 
obtain  instructions  in  favor  of  a  measure  so  universally  popular,  and 
accordingly  the  friends  of  the  bill  got  up  instructions,  which,  from  my 
known  sentiments  in  favor  of  the  doctrine  of  instruction,  I  did  not  feel 
myself  at  liberty  to  disobey.  I  accordingly  voted  for  the  bill  under 
these  instructions.  That  vote  was  the  vote  of  my  constituents  and  not 
my  own.  My  own  sentiments  upon  this  subject  are  found  recorded  in 
the  resolutions  above  referred  to.  If  a  limited  and  reasonable  system, 
such  as  I  proposed,  had  been  adopted,  instead  of  the  one  which  did 


pass, l  *  I  have  no  doubt  it  would  have  been  entirely  completed  at  this 
time,  would  be  useful  to  the  State  and  sustained  by  the  people. 

There  was  another  question  which  excited  much  interest  during  that 
session.  Immense  numbers  of  applications  were  made  for  charters  of 
all  kinds  and  description;  railroads,,  canals,  insurance  companies,  hotel 
companies,  steam  mill  companies  &c.,  &c.  I  first  attempted  to  arrest 
this  whole  system  of  legislation  as  unjust,  impolitic  and  unwise.  Fail- 
ing in  this,  I  next  attempted  to  cripple  it  by  inserting  in  each  charter 
a  clause  "reserving  the  right  to  alter,  amend  or  repeal  this  act  whenever 
the  public  good  shall  require  it." 

NOTE:  The  original  of  the  above  sketch  of  Senator  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  of  Illinois,  is  in  a  small  blank  book  found  among  his  private 
papers.  It  is  in  his  own  handwriting,  hastily  written  and  evidently 
never  revised  or  continued.  It  is  dated  September  1st,  1838,  when  he 
was  only  twenty-five  years  of  age,  and  does  not  extend  beyond  his  service 
in  the  Legislature.  It  was  evidently  never  intended  for  publication  but 
may  now  have  some  public  interest  as  the  candid  statement  of  the  boy- 
hood and  early  manhood  of  a  young  man  who  had  bravely  and  success- 
fully faced  life's  battle;  and  who  was  writing  frankly  purely  for  his  own 
future  information,  and  at  a  time  when  the  circumstances  were  yet  fresh 
in  his  mind.  Autobiographies  are  generally  carefully  written  in  old 
age  when  the  circumstances  of  early  youth  have  grown  dim,  and  perhaps 
unconsciously  colored  by  the  struggles  and  experiences  of  after  life. 

ROBERT  M.  DOUGLAS. 
March  5,  1909. 

>  *  The  State  was  bankrupt  for  years  in  consequence. 


5ME-UMM 


OF-CAIIFC 


\\EUNIVER. 


A  ^•tlBRARYO/c.       ^l-UBRARY 

i  .MI  i 


AV\E-UNIVER% 


ooo  5; 


